Tracking

December 2011

December 31, 2011

The past year has been the second warmest on record, the Met Office said today, despite the summer being disappointingly cool. It said provisional figures show that only 2006, with an average temperature of 9.73C (49.5F) was warmer than 2011's average temperature of 9.62C (49.3F).

December 30, 2011

The FAO has assisted Mozambique in stepping up quality seed production to increase crop yields, something that is crucial to unlocking the country's vast agricultural potential. "Increasing agricultural production in a country whose yields are among the lowest in the world starts with boosting productivity," said José da Graça, who coordinates FAO's European Union-funded effort in Mozambique, explaining FAO's priority support for the seed value chain. Mozambique has the potential to feed itself, owing to its abundant and largely unexploited land and water resources.

December 25, 2011

FAO and the International Labor Organization have released the first draft of a guidance document that aims to help policymakers and government authorities tackle the thorny issue of child labor in fisheries. The two organizations are currently seeking public feedback on the document, FAO-ILO guidance for addressing child labor in fisheries and aquaculture: policy and practice, in order to release a final version later next year. Most experts agree that child labor in fishing is a widespread problem. But specifics are lacking - statistics on child labor are insufficient and additionally often lump fisheries, forestry, agriculture and livestock-raising together. Combined, child workers in these four sectors are estimated to make up the largest portion — 60 percent — of the world's 215 million under age laborers.

December 24, 2011

BBC News reports that a study linking a virus to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as ME, has been withdrawn by the journal which published it. The 2009 study, in Science, suggested a mouse virus, XMRV, was linked to the illness. But in September this year, the study's authors withdrew some of their findings, saying they were based on "contaminated data". The journal said it had "lost confidence" in the study. Follow the link to read more.

December 23, 2011

Hong Kong is culling 17,000 chickens after three birds were confirmed to have died from the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain in the past week. The government has banned imports and the sale of live chickens for three weeks after an infected chicken carcass was found at a wholesale market last Tuesday. It has also raised the city's flu alert system to "serious". Two wild birds were also found to have died of the the virus. Follow the link to find out more.

December 19, 2011

It is that time of year again when hospital wards are being closed around the country because of Norovirus outbreaks. It is highly contagious as it can be spread from person to person by breath and breaches of personal hygiene standards. Only a few weeks ago I was writing about sewage and the problems with oysters and norovirus.